Participation in Anti-War Demonstrations: A Test of the Parental Continuity Hypothesis.

Spreitzer, Elmer; And Others

This study replicates earlier research on student activism, but within the context of a non-elite and relatively apolitical university campus, namely, Bowling Green University. A basic finding of the earlier research is that student activists represent an extension of parental values rather than a generational rebellion. This paper tests the parental continuity hypothesis for the less radicalized student protestors at Bowling Green. Three indicators of student-parent continuity were used: (1) political party preferences; (2) political orientations; and (3) perceived generation gap with parents. The findings show that, on all 3 indicators, student protestors were more likely to be divergent from their parents. It is concluded that the generational continuity explanation is not applicable to rank and file protestors at an apolitical university. (Author/TL)